HIPAA-compliant, Web-based Information System That Enables Hospitals to Refer Patients to Primary Care Organizations

For more information, contact: Lisa Kuuttila

Summary

This technology is a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) compliant, web-based information system used by the University of New Mexico Hospital Emergency Department to refer uninsured, unassigned patients to primary care homes within a consortium of primary care safety net provider organizations.

Background

Emergency departments often serve as primary care facilities for uninsured patients without a primary care facility. Approximately 75% of patients referred to primary care facilities do not attend their appointments. A secure network connecting emergency departments and primary care facilities to a centralized database would enable physicians to make appointments for referred patients and transfer medical records efficiently. This system would reduce the number of missed appointments, and subsequently decrease costs associated with referrals and missed appointments.

Area of Innovation

This system provides a universal organizational tool that increases operational efficiency for healthcare facilities and ultimately improves the quality of patient care.

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